In situ patellar fixing system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a patellar cutting jig for use in a knee joint surgical procedure. The jig grips and holds a patella in situ in spatial reference to the femur to enable the appropriate cut to be made to the patella to accurately accommodate the patello-femoral gap at the replacement knee joint. The patella jig has a referencing component that provides a landmark connection between the patella jig and the femur which enables the patella clamp of the jig to be oriented relative to the reference feature prior to gripping the patella. Thus a patella held in the clamp is fixed in the cutting jig an appropriate orientation relative to the femur prior to its resection. Cutting the patella while it is referenced to the patellar groove on the femur increases the accuracy of the resection.

The present application claims the benefit of prior filed U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/892,629, filed 2 Mar. 2007, which application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of surgical apparatuses used in the treatment of diseases, wounds and other abnormal conditions of the bodies of humans and lower animal (Class 128). Specifically, the present invention relates to orthopedic instrumentation designed for particular use in a surgical procedure on bone structure to correct a deformity, fracture, unwanted or diseased condition Class 606/subclass 53). More specifically, the present invention relates to an osteotomy jig for use in bone reparation, to align a cutting means in a desired orientation for severing or partially severing a bone at a knee/knee joint so that a prosthetic member fitted thereto to effect the repair of the bone (subclasses 86-88).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Total knee joint replacement surgery is now a common tool in the orthopedic surgeon's repertoire. However, there is a present controversy as to whether during a knee joint replacement surgery, the patella should be replaced as well. Some practitioners will replace the patella as well during the surgery if it is particularly worn. Other practitioners prefer to avoid replacing the patella at all costs. The controversy is difficult to resolve, because the patella replacement portion of a total knee replacement operation is the most poorly performed and understood aspect of the surgery. The standard full knee replacement surgery typically will balance the flexion gap and the extension gaps, but pay less attention to or overlook the patello-femoral gap.

The reason for this is at least in part because of the lack of appropriate alternative patellar jigs to guide the surgeon when replacing/resurfacing the patella. Typically, the patella is cut in isolation, i.e., separate and away from the femoral and tibial components of the replacement knee prosthesis. Because the patella is cut/resurfaced in isolation, it is difficult to easily assure the accuracy of the cutting/resurfacing of the patella to accommodate the flexion gap, the extension gap and the patello-femoral gap at the replacement knee joint.

It would be beneficial to the field to have an alternative patella jig that can not only be used in situ, but which also enables cutting of the patella with physical reference to the femoral prosthetic (or trial) component that it is to interface with. Additionally, it would be beneficial to have such alternative patella jig that can hold a range of patella sizes, without compromising accuracy of the physical interface alignment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a patellar fixing system for use, for example, in a total knee surgical procedure. The fixing system stabilizes a patella in situ in spatial/physical reference to the femoral prosthesis (or the femoral trial) to enable the appropriate cut to be made to the patella to assure the accuracy of the cutting/resurfacing of the patella to accommodate the patello-femoral gap at the replacement knee joint. The present system for resecting a patella in situ comprises a patella jig and a referencing component. The patella jig incorporates a patella clamp mechanism adapted to releaseably hold the patella. The femur referencing or engaging component provides a connection between the patella jig and an anchor point or landmark (i.e., a reference feature) on the femur. The connection to the anchor point or reference feature on the femur enables the patella jig to be oriented relative to the reference feature. Thus a patella held in the clamp mechanism can be fixed in an appropriate orientation relative to the femur during its resection. Cutting the patella while it is referenced to the patellar groove on the femur increases the accuracy of the resection relative to what otherwise may be accomplished.

The referencing feature on the femur can be accomplished in a number of manners. One is to install an artificial anchor point on the femur to serve as the reference feature via which the patella jig is connected to the femur. Another is to use the femoral prosthesis or trial which incorporate a feature that can be utilized as an anchor point. Additionally, a femur reference feature can be a natural surface feature of the femur itself, or can be a feature sculpted into the femur bone to serve this function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic representation of the present patella fixing system showing the major components of the system in relationship to a patella and knee joint.

FIGS. 1B and 1C are perspective views of the knee joint bone showing alternative embodiments of femur features which can serve as a landmark/anchor point on the femur, relative to which orientation of the patella jig can be gauged.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are schematic illustrations exemplifying an embodiment of the present patella jig, wherein the femur engaging component comprises a mechanical link to a prosthesis or trial.

FIGS. 3A to 3E are schematic illustrations exemplifying an embodiment of the present patella jig, wherein the femur engaging component comprises an alternative mechanical link to a prosthesis or trial.

FIG. 3F is a schematic illustration exemplifying an embodiment of the present patella jig, wherein the femur engaging component comprises is not mechanically link to the prosthesis or trial, is connected via a complementary contoured interface pad.

FIG. 4A is a schematic top plan view of the clamp mechanism of the patella jig configured as a pliers assembly.

FIG. 4B is a schematic bottom plan view of the jaws of the clamp mechanism of FIG. 4A exemplifying an embodiment having complementary contoured interface pad for connecting the clamp mechanism to the prosthesis or trial.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, the details of preferred embodiments of the present invention are graphically and schematically illustrated. Like elements in the drawings are represented by like numbers, and any similar elements are represented by like numbers with a different lower case letter suffix.

As exemplified in FIG. 1A, the present invention is an patellar fixing system 10 for use in situ in resecting a patella 20, in surgical procedures such as a knee joint replacement surgery. The system 10 includes a patella jig 12 comprised of a patella clamp mechanism 14 and a femur engaging component 16. The clamp mechanism 14 is adapted to releaseably grip and hold the patella 20 during its resection. Patella clamping mechanisms are known in the art. The femur engaging component 16 is adapted to interface with a femur reference feature 24 on a femur 22 and serves to connect the patella jig 14 to the reference feature 24. This connection allows the clamping mechanism 14 of the patella jig 12 to be oriented relative to the surface of the femur 22, thus enabling a patella 20 gripped by the clamp mechanism 14 and disposed in the jig 12 in an appropriate aspect relative to the femur 22 for resection. Once the patella is set into the jig 12, it can be moved to a different position as necessary for resection without losing its aspect relative to the surface of the femur 22.

As exemplified in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the femur engaging component 16 is a mechanical linkage that comprises a jig link 28 fixed to the jig 12, and a femur reference fixture 24 that is installed on the femur 22. The jig link 28 releaseably connects the jig 12 to the femur reference fixture 24 installed on the femur 22, and enables the jig 12 to be disposed in an appropriate orientation relative to the femur 22. In FIG. 1B, the jig link 28 is a hook 28 a and the femur reference fixture 24 is a hook-eye fitting 24 a that is fixed to the femur 22. The loop of the hook-eye fitting 24 a is the linkage interface 30 of the jig link 28. The hook-eye fitting 24 a fixed on the femur provides an anchor (or femur reference point) for the patella jig 12. The hook-eye of the reference fixture 24 a is engageable by the link hook 28 a to accomplish the purpose of the femur engaging component 16. In other words, the femur engaging mechanical linkage component 16 comprises a jig link 28 interfacing with a femur reference fixture 24 that provides an artificial physical reference point fixed on the femur 22.

FIG. 1C illustrates an example of a preferred artificial physical reference fixture 24, wherein the femur reference fixture 24 installed on the femur 22 is a femoral prosthesis (or trial) device 24 b. In this embodiment, the jig link 28 is a hook 28 a, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1B. However, the femur reference fixture 24 b is engageable by the link hook 28 a at linkage interface 30 b on the prosthesis device 24 b to accomplish the purpose of the femur engaging component 16. See FIGS. 2A to 2C showing examples the patella jig 12 of this embodiment.

FIGS. 3A to 3E illustrate examples of an alternative preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the femur reference fixture 24 installed on the femur 22 is also a femoral prosthesis (or trial) device 24 b. However, the jig link 28 is a probe 28 b configured as a flat blade, rather than as a hook 29 a. Additionally, in this embodiment, the linkage interface 30 b is integral to the prosthetic device 24 c installed on the femur (22), and because of its configuration comprises a stabilized anchor point 30 b. In this embodiment, the femur reference fixture 24 c is preferably a trial device, rather than the finally installed prosthetic device, allowing the finally installed prosthesis to not have to incorporate the physical features of the linkage interface 30 b. Additionally, the jig link probe 28 b and its complementary linkage interface 30 b can be configured other than as a blade. For example, the jig link probe 28 c can be configured as a set of pins and the complementary linkage interface 30 c configured as a set of pin bores as illustrated in the insets in FIG. 3B.

As can be seen in the figures, the clamp mechanism 14 of the patella resection jig 12 preferably includes a tool guide 50. The tool guide 50 may take various configurations selectable by the ordinary skilled artisan, but in the preferred embodiment exemplified, the tool guide is a miter slot through the jaws. The miter slot 50 is coplanar with and defines the resection plane of reversibly jig. The tool guide 50 is adapted to allow a cutting tool blade to pass through the jaws along the resection plane. The tool guide in the exemplified embodiment can be a closed miter slot (see FIG. 2A) or can be an open miter slot 50 (see FIG. 3A).

In a preferred embodiment exemplifies by FIG. 4A, the patella clamp mechanism 14 comprises a hand-operated clamping pliers 60. The clamping pliers 60 have a first member 61 with a first jaw 62 portion and first handle 63 portion, as well as a complementary second member 64 having an opposing second jaw 65 portion and a second handle 66 portion. The first member and second member 61, 64 are reversibly joined at a pivot point 68 to form the clamping pliers 60. The jaws 62, 65 of the clamping pliers 60 adapted to clamp onto the 20 patella at the periphery of the patella 20. As exemplified in FIG. 4B, the jig link 28 projecting from bottom surface of the jaw of at least one member is a contoured pad 48. The contoured pad 48 is adapted to interface with the patellar surface of the femoral prosthesis device 24 d when it is installed on the knee joint of the femoral bone (22).

Optionally, the patella resection jig 12 has a pivot assembly 40 for pivotably joining the first 61 and second 65 members together at the pivot point 68. In the embodiment illustrated (see FIGS. 3D and 3E), the pivot assembly 40 comprises a height adjustment mechanism 42 to adjust the spatial relationship s of the jig link 28 b of the femur engaging component 16 relative to the bottom surface of the jaws of the clamp mechanism 14. Additionally, the spatial relationship s of the jig link 28 b relative to the bottom surface of the jaws can be adjusted by using a jig link 28 d that has a different sized reach r. See insert in FIG. 3D. It should be noted that the pivot assembly 40 is can be disassemble to allow separation of clamping mechanism 14 from the femur engaging component 16, in the same manner as it would be dissembled to change jig links. Disassembly in situ allows the surgeon to move the clamp mechanism 14 (with the patella 20 still clamped in it) away from the femur 22, and to flip/invert it as necessary in order to have good access and good visibility while performing the resection.

While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of one or another preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible, which would be obvious to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, and not just by the embodiments. 

1. A patella resection jig (12) comprising a patella clamp mechanism (14) and a femur engaging component (16), the clamp mechanism (14) adapted to releaseably hold the patella (20), and the femur engaging component (16) adapted to interface with a femur reference feature (24) on a femur (22), and wherein the patella jig (14) is orientable relative to the reference feature (24) to enable the patella (20) to be held in the clamp mechanism (14) an appropriate orientation relative to the femur (22) to resect the patella (20) along a resection plane.
 2. The patellar fixing system (10) of claim 1, wherein the femur engaging component (16) comprises a jig link (28) on the jig (12), the jig link (28) interfacing with the femur reference feature (24) on the femur (22) and enabling the jig (12) to be disposed in an appropriate orientation relative to the femur (22).
 3. The patellar fixing system (10) of claim 2, wherein the jig link (28) is a mechanical linkage (29 a) interfacing with a femur reference feature (24) that is an artificial physical reference feature (24 a-d) fixed on the femur (22).
 4. The patellar fixing system (10) of claim 3, wherein the artificial physical reference feature (24) is a removable anchor fitting (24 a) installed on the femur (22).
 5. The patellar fixing system (10) of claim 3, wherein artificial physical reference feature (24 b) is an anchor point (30 a-c) integral to a prosthetic device (40) installed on the femur (22).
 6. The patellar fixing system (10) of claim 5, wherein the femur reference feature (24) is integral to the prosthetic device (40) installed on the femur (22), and comprises a stabilized anchor point (30 a-b).
 7. The patellar fixing system (10) of claim 6, wherein the stabilized anchor point (30 a-b) is selected from the group consisting of: a blade, or a set of pins.
 8. The patellar fixing system (10) of claim 3, wherein the femur physical reference feature (24) is a section of the femur (22) cut/adapted to provide an anchor point on the femur (22).
 9. The patella resection jig (12) of claim 1, wherein the patella clamp mechanism (14) includes a tool guide (50).
 10. The patella clamp mechanism (14) of claim 9, wherein the tool guide is a miter slot through the jaws, the miter slot coplanar with the resection plane, and adapted to allow a cutting tool blade to pass through the jaws along the resection plane.
 11. The patella resection jig (12) of claim 1, wherein the patella clamp mechanism (14) comprises a hand-operated clamping pliers (60) having a first member (61) with a first jaw (62) and first handle (63) and a second member (64) having an opposing second jaw (65) and a second handle (66), the first member (61) and the second member (64) joinable at a pivot point (68) to form the clamping pliers (60), the jaws (62, 65) of the clamping pliers (60) adapted to clamp onto the (20) patella at a periphery of the patella (20).
 12. The patella resection jig (12) of claim 11, further comprising a pivot assembly (40) for pivotably joining the first (61) and second (65) members together at the pivot point (68), the pivot assembly (40) having a height adjustment mechanism (42) to adjust a spatial relationship (s) of the femur engaging component (16) and the clamp mechanism (14).
 13. The patella resection jig (12) of claim 12, wherein the pivot assembly (40) is disassemblable in situ to allow separation of clamping mechanism 14 from the femur engaging component 16 to allow a user to move the clamp mechanism 14 with the patella 20 still clamped in it away from the femur 22, and to flip/invert it to improve access and visibility while performing the resection.
 14. The patellar fixing system (10) of claim 11, wherein the femur engaging component (16) includes a jig link (28) projecting from a lower surface of the jaw of at least one member, the jig link (28) adapted to releaseably interface with a femoral prosthesis device installed on the femoral bone (22) knee joint.
 15. The patellar fixing system (10) of claim 14, wherein the jig link (28) projecting from a lower surface of the jaw of at least one member is a contoured pad (48) adapted to interface with a femoral prosthesis device (24 d) installed on the femoral bone (22) knee joint.
 16. A patellar fixing system (10) for resecting a patella (20), the system (10) including: a patella jig (12) having a femur engaging component (16) and a patella clamp mechanism (14); a femoral prosthesis device (24 b-c) installed on a femur (22), the prosthesis device having an integral femur reference feature (30 a-c) which is adapted to interface with the femur engaging component (16) of the jig (12); and wherein the patella clamp mechanism (14) may be oriented via femur engaging component (16) relative the femur reference feature (24 b-c) to dispose the patella (20) in the patella clamp (14) in an appropriate orientation relative to the femur (22) for resecting the patella (20).
 17. A femoral prosthesis device (24 c) for use with an in situ patella clamping jig (12), the prosthesis device comprising an internal femur reference feature (30 b-c) disposed below a patellar surface of said femoral prosthesis device (24 c), the femur reference feature (30 b-c) adapted to closely receive a jig link (28) of said clamping jig when said prosthesis is installed on a femoral bone. 